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Wednesday, August 10, 2016

The
Members of the Security Council were briefed by the Secretary
General’s Special Envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura and Under
Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief
coordinator Stephen O’Brien on 9 August 2016.

The
members of the Security Council underscored their strong resolve to
combat the terrorist threat faced by Syria by all means in accordance
with their obligations under the UN Charter and international law. In
this regard they called on all opposition groups to immediately
disengage from terrorists, halt supporting them and engaging in their
actions and recalled that, according to its counterterrorism
resolutions, such support or engagement may lead to further listings
under its sanctions regime.

The
Members of the UN Security Council reiterate their resolve to address
all aspects of the dire humanitarian situation in Syria, which
has deteriorated due to the increase in terrorist activities.
Members of the Security Council reiterated their call for immediate,
unhindered and complete humanitarian access to all areas of Syria,
the immediate lifting of all sieges, including to all areas of Aleppo
– regardless of the controlling party. As one element of the
comprehensive efforts to achieve this, the Members of the Security
Council expressed their support for the call of Under Secretary
General for Humanitarian Affairs, Stephen O'Brien, that all parties
abide by recurring substantial pauses in fighting to ensure sustained
humanitarian deliveries via cross line and cross border convoys to
Aleppo can commence safely and effectively.

The
members of the Security Council underscored the imperative to ensure
the exclusively humanitarian nature of convoys and called to
immediately take exhaustive measures in order to prevent foreign
terrorist fighters from crossing borders and stop illegal flow of
weapons into Syria.

The
Members of the Security Council welcomed
all
initiatives aimed at improving the humanitarian situation in Syria
and also
stressed that any humanitarian initiative must operate according to
humanitarian principles and be led by impartial humanitarian actors
acting
in close cooperation with the government of the Syrian Arab Republic.
Any proposed humanitarian initiatives for civilians to escape the
fighting must be guaranteed by all sides and independently
implemented and monitored, and all civilians should be guaranteed
voluntary, free movement, including the right to choose their route
and destination, if they choose to leave. They
stressed the need to demilitarize medical facilities, schools and
other civilian objects and avoid establishing military positions in
populated areas and using civilian population as human shield.
Humanitarian aid must be delivered to the population wherever they
may be, irrespective of whether they chose to leave or remain in
Aleppo.

Тhе
members of the Security Council noted with appreciation that warring
parties in over 300 locations throughout Syria had signed cease-fire
agreements and encouraged all sides in Aleppo to follow the suit.

The
members of the security council underlined that any long-term
alleviation of the dire humanitarian situation cannot be achieved
without lifting unilateral sanctions imposed on the Syrian Arab
Republic.

The
Members of the Security Council reiterated their support for the
Humanitarian Task force of the International Syria Support Group and
called on all parties to cooperate with its efforts to ensure
immediate, unhindered and complete humanitarian access and the
efforts of the ISSG members to revive the Cessation of Hostilities.
Members of the Security Council noted that the aforementioned pauses
will not apply to offensive or defensive actions against Islamic
State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as Da’esh), Al-Nusra
Front (ANF), and all other individuals, groups, undertakings, and
entities associated with Al Qaeda or ISIL, and other terrorist
groups, as designated by the Security Council.

The
Members of the Security Council underscored that the situation will
continue to deteriorate in the absence of a political solution and
reaffirmed its support for a Syrian-led political process facilitated
by the United Nations.